The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s2.2

c2.s2.2

† An abstract will indicate this. Of two possible heirs to the throne of Hāstinapura, Pāṇdu, the younger, having succeeded to the sovereignty on account of the blindness of his elder brother, Dhritarāṣṭra, finally grew weary of ruling, and, retiring into the woods, where he died, left his kingdom to the blind Dhritarāṣṭra. The latter, regarding Yudhishthira, Pāṇdu's eldest son, as rightful heir, caused him at first to be proclaimed crown prince; but subsequently, persuaded by Duryodhana and others of his sons, reconsidered the matter, yielded to sin, permitted Yudhishthira with his four brothers (called the Pāṇdus, as opposed to the Kurus, Duryodhana and his brothers) to be enticed out of the city, and then settled the whole kingdom on his own son. But the Pāṇdus, at first expelled and in mortal danger, after proceeding to Panchāla and forming an alliance with that king by a polyandrous marriage with his daughter, returned to Hāstinapura, backed by Pan-